Nottingham Forest's manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, reflected on their 3-1 loss to Newcastle United, acknowledging the lesson learned despite not criticising his team. Forest had been on a winning streak, climbing to third in the Premier League. Murillo's early goal gave them hope for another victory, but Newcastle's dominance soon turned the tide.Newcastle's Alexander Isak equalised after Forest's initial lead. Despite Forest's strong defensive record this season, they were exposed by counter-attacks from Joelinton and Harvey Barnes. These counter-attacks have been a hallmark of Forest's strategy in the past. Nuno praised Newcastle's execution of this tactic.

"I cannot say that was a bad performance, that is totally out of the question,"

the Forest boss told BBC Sport.

"We played against a very good team that was able to control us and then hurt us in the way we've been doing. It is a lesson for us to learn."

Nuno acknowledged Newcastle's superiority during key moments of the match. He commended his players' character and belief despite the defeat. The game highlighted areas for improvement as they faced a formidable opponent.Newcastle trailed at halftime despite dominating possession with 60% and having more shots than Forest. Coach Eddie Howe recognised areas needing improvement, which his team addressed after the break. "It was difficult, but we knew it would be," he said.

"They are a difficult team to play against because they don't concede many chances and you're left fearing the worst when you go behind."

Howe praised his team's second-half performance as one of their best this season. They intensified their attack, creating more opportunities and showcasing their potential.Newcastle achieved three consecutive wins across competitions for the first time in over a year. This success was bolstered by their attacking players' resurgence. Isak scored in four consecutive matches after netting only once earlier in the season.Harvey Barnes continued to impress from the bench, scoring six of his nine goals as a substitute. Howe emphasised the importance of contributions from attacking players like Isak and Barnes.

"We need our attacking players to contribute goals, and Alex has done that in the past few weeks with massive moments,"

Howe added.

Barnes' performance was particularly noteworthy, with Howe expressing satisfaction over his goal-scoring ability and considering ways to integrate him into the starting lineup more frequently. The match underscored Newcastle's growing confidence and tactical adaptability under Howe's guidance. Their recent form suggests they are becoming formidable contenders once again within competitive leagues.